The Force is strong with Will Anderson. And on Sunday, the Texans’ second-year defensive end shattered the Dolphins’ playoff hopes with a red lightsaber. Coupled with the Colts’ loss at Denver later in the day, Houston clinched a second straight AFC South crown with a 20-12 win.
Anderson said in the days leading up to the game that Houston needed to ignore Miami’s eye-candy and remain disciplined in affecting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Texans did that and more, recording four takeaways and three sacks while holding Miami to just 224 net yards, its lowest with Tagovailoa under center.
“Football’s version of James Earl Jones, Will Anderson,” said Dan Orlovsky in a special segment on ESPN’s NFL Live Monday afternoon. “He was dominant in the run game so often, but his hit on Tua on the backside that created that fumble was an absolute problem.”
That hit came five and-a-half minutes into the second quarter in a tie game. Anderson blasted Tagovailoa from behind, forcing a fumble recovered by Tim Settle at the Dolphins’ 30-yard line. Four plays later, C.J. Stroud connected with Nico Collins on a go-ahead 6-yard touchdown pass. Houston didn’t relinquish that lead over the balance of the game. Anderson credited Denico Autry on opening his lane.
“God is so good,” Anderson told Drew Dougherty, smiling on the field after the win. “It’s hard to get sacks in this league but I’ve got to give credit to the D-line. Denico knocked the guy back, I went in on the edge, Tua hitched and I came and strip-sacked the ball. Didn’t even know I did it but we were able to put points on the board. That’s how you play complementary football.”
Anderson’s teammate Derek Stingley recorded two interceptions and now has four over his last four games. The Texans (9-5) have won three of their last four entering Saturday’s showdown at Kansas City (13-1). Houston is one of four teams, along with the Chiefs, Steelers and Ravens, playing three games over an 11-day stretch. After Saturday, the Texans get the Ravens at home and close the regular season at Tennessee.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans became the first head coach this century to win division titles in each of his first two seasons with a rookie starting quarterback in Year 1. Jim Caldwell, Jim Harbaugh, Matt LaFleur, Sean McVay and Mike Tomlin did it previously but with veterans under center for at least one of those two campaigns.
For more information on the Texans and Dolphins, visit the Houston and Miami team pages at ProFootballPost.com.
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